Anybody have a backup plan?

[matante]

I'm 58. Know full well how to use a map, but doing that would add ridiculous amounts of time to my job. I play 2-3 shows a week, and 80% of my gigs are in places I've never been before. Waze makes travel a complete no-brainer for me, but I want backup. Using maps would also add many hours to my travel time because it's impossible to figure in traffic, road closures, construction, and best routes. Goin old school for me is like choosing a horse and buggy over a car.

I disagree with this. I worked as a courier covering all of Los Angeles and surrounding counties for several years. The Thomas Guide is your best friend and takes a minute to use once you get the hang of it. When I quit that job they said they had to hire two guys to replace me. I'm not saying not to use your phone, but a Thomas Guide is the obvious best backup. Won't crap out on you, ever. Just leave it in the glove box or under the seat til the day you need it.

 

[klyph]

but I always have an iPad on me for gigs. Downloading routes on that with WiFi might be the way to go that I hadn't thought of.

I used to do this a lot years ago on my 1st gen iPad. I would “fit” my destination on the screen with the nearest highway en route and save it, then write down any directions needed to get me to that highway (usually not needed). I know, It’s still just a version of “look at a map”, but it’s pretty useful if you get lost, and at least you know the map is current, if not the traffic info.

 

[Skillet]

According to music videos, there are usually scantily clad women on the side of the road looking for rides. Maybe they know the area?

 

[Siggy]

Yes, I carry an old TomTom. Phone died / no service in Alabama, plugged in the TomTom and it got me to a civilization. It is outdated but I'm grateful for the backup.

 

[BooDoggie]

Um... You can pick up an atlas at any truckstop just about anywhere and do what us old timers do and look at your route on an actual paper map. Works great. It never has runs out of battery power and never will.

I know that it is sacrilege to say do something without some "smart" device these days, but look where depending on those things will get you. How about stranded in a snow covered mountain pass for example because the GPS said turn right at the next intersection. It plotted out the shortest route without factoring in time of day, season, or road conditions...

I'm just sayin...

I've never gone anywhere that I couldn't get back from on my own without a GPS, and I used to drive cross country trucks with only my wits and a paper map...

 

[BooDoggie]

How someone would choose a map at 2AM lost on a highway, as opposed to a spare GPS is beyond my comprehension.

Herein lies the problem... TOO DEPENDANT ON TECHNOLOGY to save your on ass...

 

[Mark McClelland]

I often don't have one. I tend to just go and leave worrying about getting back till i have to think about it. Living pretty much in central London now and being very well connected transportwise, I'm generally confident I'm going to be good, whatever I find in the big out there. However quite a few times, when I've lived in or have been staying at other places, it has meant I've slept in the open - twice on a beach - or at least not been able to make a move until the next day proper has begun again. Not entirely sure how this approach would serve me in the great open vastness of the USA or the Australian outback and no, I don't plan on trying it

 

[JimmyM]

I always print out Mapquest directions.

 

[Stumbo]

Portable battery charger: Amazon.com: portable battery charger for cell phones

 

[brianrost]

what's your B plan?

Rand McNally Road Atlas (in my car at all times) to get to the right town and then pull into a gas station and ask for directions.

I have gotten lazy and stopped printing out Google maps when I got my iPhone three years ago. If I was really worried about the phone crapping out I guess I'd start printing them again. I have a charger in the car and always plug the phone in when using the GPS.

Now you've made me paranoid

 

[avvie]

This is the weirdest thread I've seen in a long time.

 

[Watchootognbout]

I'm an old world man.
I ALWAYS use Google Earth maps to make sure I know the route of exactly where I'm going and the route back BEFORE I strike out.
Without GPS or Garmin or electronic navigators.

I have a car charger for my phone.

 

[avvie]

Herein lies the problem... TOO DEPENDANT ON TECHNOLOGY to save your on ass...

Yep. Everyone should just assume that the poles will flip tomorrow and nothing will work any more. Tech is a convenience, but not a permanent replacement.

 

[Stumbo]

1) Here's your huckleberry: Small, long running generator with AC, 12V, USB, Solar connections You can camp out instead of driving home.

2) Heavy duty power bar with USB ports Make sure your phone is 100% charged before you leave the gig.

3) USB cigarette lighter charger cord - always run your phone off of this when driving

4) Second cell phone

5) Android 4g tablet

6) Portable cell phone battery charger

7) Subscribe to OnStar or whatever service your car provides

8) Printed directions, to and from

9) Compass

 

[EatS1stBassist]

I must have been in the sun too long! 69 and not getting any younger, I thought it was all about if an all else fails scenario!
I always route myself before I go anywhere! (Google Maps). I also take a screenshot of the overview and try my best to commit it to memory. Before I learned how to use my phone I would call my wife so she could try to explain where I was. Lol. I guess becoming an uber driver quickly cured that. IMO Paper Maps and GPS is too easy. Memory commitment for me is a safety issue. I don’t want to be caught looking down or in any other direction when I need to be looking elsewhere!

 

[okcrum]

Thanks. That helped me understand some of the responses that I can't really wrap my brain around.

How someone would choose a map at 2AM lost on a highway, as opposed to a spare GPS is beyond my comprehension. It's laughable to me also to even THINK of asking anyone for directions at that time of night. It would take me days to find someone who actually knew, and at least a few hours to find someone who'd be willing to help me by getting me directions on their phone. They'd think I was going to scam, rob or kill them.

There are overhead lights in every vehicle that used to be referred to as map lights before GPS. For best results, pull over to the shoulder, turn on the light, and look at the map. Maps work when GPS can fail, for example, in blinding snowstorms upstate playing the ski lodge gigs in MA and VT.

I get that asking directions at 2 AM in 2019 is risky or useless; I grew up in the NYC metro area.

 

[Thumpin6string]

There are these things that are made of paper and ink, they are called maps. Just FYI.

 

[SouthLatitude]

Back in the old timey days we had these things called a 'road atlas'.

Dont leave home without it.

 

[micguy]

If I’m going somewhere that cell reception might be sketchy, I print out maps and directions.

 

[rohi]

I've got a spare laptop in my van with offline maps-- it doesn't give you turn by turn directions, but it'll save ya in a pinch.